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moving from breadboard to pc board — Parallax Forums

moving from breadboard to pc board

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2002-03-23 01:52 in General Discussion
I have constructed and programmed a tachometer on the BOE breadboard. It works.

On a perf board from Radio Shack, I re-created the circuit, and transferred the
Stamp and another IC, a digital
pot, from the breadboard to sockets on the perf board.

Not surprisingly, perhaps, the tachometer doesn't work in it's new incarnation.
To make sure I hadn't ruined the
chips in my "smoke test," I transferred them back to the breadboard. The
tachometer circuit still works fine.

The pc board is clean, no shorts, all wiring checks out.

What are the differences between the pc board version and the breadboard
version?

The pc board relies on the stamp's on-board regulator to produce a +5 supply for
the other chip. A check with the
VOM shows it is delivering the +5 supply okay.

The BOE has a serial interface -- the pc board has none. In other words, the
pins that were used for programming
are no longer hooked up to anything. Could this make a difference somehow? I
doesn't seem like it should, but I
am trying to exhaust the possibilites.

Thank you for your insights.
Michael

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-03-13 23:24
    Hi Michael,

    A few things to check for.

    First, how much current is the rest of your circuit drawing? The Stamp's
    regulator can't provide much current and the more voltage you put in,
    the less current you can get out (like most regulators).

    Second, breadboards are big capacitors and so you might need bypass
    capacitors on the PCB that you didn't need on the breadboard.

    Third, have someone else check your wiring ;-)

    Fourth, what other circuits are you using on the PCB?

    Fifth, if your wiring rings true with an ohmmeter, I guess this isn't a
    problem, but I have found that the Radio Shack boards are uniformly
    filthy when you unpack them and a good fluxing (can I say that before
    9PM?) will really improve their solderability.

    If you have noisy things like motors or spark plugs nearby, you might
    want to read the Stamp FAQ article about reseting the processor
    spuriously. The FAQ is at http://www.al-williams.com/wd5gnr/stampfaq.htm
    -- If you build your breadboard circuit and remove the programming cable
    does it still work? It should.

    Another problem that sometimes manifests itself as a "works with cable
    on, not with cable off" is when you have a ground missing. Then you wind
    up grounding your circuit through the DB9 and the PC. If you have
    sensors, motors, etc. be sure the grounds are tied together.

    Al Williams
    AWC
    * Control 8 servos at once
    http://www.al-williams.com/awce/pak8.htm



    >
    Original Message
    > From: Michael Gianturco [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=MrjBLxMsWwtswxdePn6EQWgIqpCkfWIFasfO-Rq54-wpnYjywkAktdfizJhpTv5AFvpI2MZK3Vk5DLPhIQ]michcg@m...[/url
    > Sent: Wednesday, March 13, 2002 5:22 PM
    > To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    > Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] moving from breadboard to pc board
    >
    >
    > I have constructed and programmed a tachometer on the BOE
    > breadboard. It works.
    >
    > On a perf board from Radio Shack, I re-created the circuit,
    > and transferred the Stamp and another IC, a digital pot, from
    > the breadboard to sockets on the perf board.
    >
    > Not surprisingly, perhaps, the tachometer doesn't work in
    > it's new incarnation. To make sure I hadn't ruined the chips
    > in my "smoke test," I transferred them back to the
    > breadboard. The tachometer circuit still works fine.
    >
    > The pc board is clean, no shorts, all wiring checks out.
    >
    > What are the differences between the pc board version and the
    > breadboard version?
    >
    > The pc board relies on the stamp's on-board regulator to
    > produce a +5 supply for the other chip. A check with the VOM
    > shows it is delivering the +5 supply okay.
    >
    > The BOE has a serial interface -- the pc board has none. In
    > other words, the pins that were used for programming
    > are no longer hooked up to anything. Could this make a
    > difference somehow? I doesn't seem like it should, but I
    > am trying to exhaust the possibilites.
    >
    > Thank you for your insights.
    > Michael
    >
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the
    > Subject and Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
    > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-03-13 23:57
    At 06:21 PM 3/13/02 -0500, Michael Gianturco wrote:

    >The BOE has a serial interface -- the pc board has none. In other words,
    >the pins that were used for programming are no longer hooked up to
    >anything. Could this make a difference somehow? I doesn't seem like it
    >should, but I am trying to exhaust the possibilites.

    I may be out to lunch here, but is MCLR included in those programming
    pins? If so, it needs to be tied HI to ensure the micro runs.

    dwayne


    Dwayne Reid <dwayner@p...>
    Trinity Electronics Systems Ltd Edmonton, AB, CANADA
    (780) 489-3199 voice (780) 487-6397 fax

    Celebrating 18 years of Engineering Innovation (1984 - 2002)
    .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-
    `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' `-'
    Do NOT send unsolicited commercial email to this email address.
    This message neither grants consent to receive unsolicited
    commercial email nor is intended to solicit commercial email.
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-03-14 02:48
    Hello Dwayne,

    This is a BS2.

    On the BOE, the pins numbered 1,2,3 are wired to the serial plug. They are,
    respectively, Sout, Sin, and ATN. Sout
    and Sin are probably short for Serial Out and Serial In. The ATN, I don't know.
    It connects to a pin on the
    serial plug via a .1 microFarad capacitor.

    What is MCLR?

    Many thanks, Michael




    Dwayne Reid wrote:

    > At 06:21 PM 3/13/02 -0500, Michael Gianturco wrote:
    >
    > >The BOE has a serial interface -- the pc board has none. In other words,
    > >the pins that were used for programming are no longer hooked up to
    > >anything. Could this make a difference somehow? I doesn't seem like it
    > >should, but I am trying to exhaust the possibilites.
    >
    > I may be out to lunch here, but is MCLR included in those programming
    > pins? If so, it needs to be tied HI to ensure the micro runs.
    >
    > dwayne
    >
    > Dwayne Reid <dwayner@p...>
    > Trinity Electronics Systems Ltd Edmonton, AB, CANADA
    > (780) 489-3199 voice (780) 487-6397 fax
    >
    > Celebrating 18 years of Engineering Innovation (1984 - 2002)
    > .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-
    > `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' `-'
    > Do NOT send unsolicited commercial email to this email address.
    > This message neither grants consent to receive unsolicited
    > commercial email nor is intended to solicit commercial email.
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and Body
    of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-03-15 02:48
    Thank you for you suggestions, Al. I think I have finally isolated the problem.
    It was not in the board, after
    all, but in my connection to the Hall Detector.

    I cleaned the perf board with a rubber eraser, but if I use one again I might
    try the "good fluxing." I am
    comfortable with a soldering iron, usually, but this particular pc board did not
    go very well. Maybe it was the
    board.

    Incidentally, I really enjoyed reading your book and I return to it again and
    again for reference. You have an
    excellent writing style, very helpful. I also enjoy your wry wit. Thank you
    again for your help. Best, Michael




    Al Williams wrote:

    > Hi Michael,
    >
    > A few things to check for.
    >
    > First, how much current is the rest of your circuit drawing? The Stamp's
    > regulator can't provide much current and the more voltage you put in,
    > the less current you can get out (like most regulators).
    >
    > Second, breadboards are big capacitors and so you might need bypass
    > capacitors on the PCB that you didn't need on the breadboard.
    >
    > Third, have someone else check your wiring ;-)
    >
    > Fourth, what other circuits are you using on the PCB?
    >
    > Fifth, if your wiring rings true with an ohmmeter, I guess this isn't a
    > problem, but I have found that the Radio Shack boards are uniformly
    > filthy when you unpack them and a good fluxing (can I say that before
    > 9PM?) will really improve their solderability.
    >
    > If you have noisy things like motors or spark plugs nearby, you might
    > want to read the Stamp FAQ article about reseting the processor
    > spuriously. The FAQ is at http://www.al-williams.com/wd5gnr/stampfaq.htm
    > -- If you build your breadboard circuit and remove the programming cable
    > does it still work? It should.
    >
    > Another problem that sometimes manifests itself as a "works with cable
    > on, not with cable off" is when you have a ground missing. Then you wind
    > up grounding your circuit through the DB9 and the PC. If you have
    > sensors, motors, etc. be sure the grounds are tied together.
    >
    > Al Williams
    > AWC
    > * Control 8 servos at once
    > http://www.al-williams.com/awce/pak8.htm
    >
    > >
    Original Message
    > > From: Michael Gianturco [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=aDZcrFoNrf0cJmNGNcch2uEIaBG7Q4R1u766DASyOemUpdiiCvOXLvQMEmiaWithDe9R81wMNy8TO_6zgbSFxA]michcg@m...[/url
    > > Sent: Wednesday, March 13, 2002 5:22 PM
    > > To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    > > Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] moving from breadboard to pc board
    > >
    > >
    > > I have constructed and programmed a tachometer on the BOE
    > > breadboard. It works.
    > >
    > > On a perf board from Radio Shack, I re-created the circuit,
    > > and transferred the Stamp and another IC, a digital pot, from
    > > the breadboard to sockets on the perf board.
    > >
    > > Not surprisingly, perhaps, the tachometer doesn't work in
    > > it's new incarnation. To make sure I hadn't ruined the chips
    > > in my "smoke test," I transferred them back to the
    > > breadboard. The tachometer circuit still works fine.
    > >
    > > The pc board is clean, no shorts, all wiring checks out.
    > >
    > > What are the differences between the pc board version and the
    > > breadboard version?
    > >
    > > The pc board relies on the stamp's on-board regulator to
    > > produce a +5 supply for the other chip. A check with the VOM
    > > shows it is delivering the +5 supply okay.
    > >
    > > The BOE has a serial interface -- the pc board has none. In
    > > other words, the pins that were used for programming
    > > are no longer hooked up to anything. Could this make a
    > > difference somehow? I doesn't seem like it should, but I
    > > am trying to exhaust the possibilites.
    > >
    > > Thank you for your insights.
    > > Michael
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the
    > > Subject and Body of the message will be ignored.
    > >
    > >
    > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
    > > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    > >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and Body
    of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-03-15 14:56
    Hi
    I have been waiting for someone like this to get some feedback
    regarding my problem, however the problem manifests in reverse for
    me, works with cable off not with cable on

    > Al Williams wrote:
    > > Another problem that sometimes manifests itself as a "works with
    cable
    > > on, not with cable off" is when you have a ground missing. Then
    you wind
    > > up grounding your circuit through the DB9 and the PC. If you have
    > > sensors, motors, etc. be sure the grounds are tied together.

    Radu
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-03-15 21:34
    Thanks for the kind words Michael.

    My ex son in law taught me the value of keeping those flux pens around.
    His favorite trick was to cut strips of solder braid, soak them in flux,
    and use them to soak up solder.

    Another interesting flux related note. I recently picked up a few of
    these "solder tinner cleaners" that you can get from Kester or Radio
    Shack. I thought, what's the big deal? Turns out, they are amazing. Your
    tip comes out very clean and shiny. They say lead free, so I don't know
    exactly what's in them. Looks like a grey stone but sort of soft. These
    aren't the old "cleaners" that were just a bunch of coils that would
    scrape the iron, but something different.

    Anyway, glad you enjoyed the book and that your project is working.

    Al Williams
    AWC
    * Easy RS-232 Prototyping
    http://www.al-williams.com/awce/rs1.htm



    >
    Original Message
    > From: Michael Gianturco [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=lztORZjCDy-XKDPX1LYQWFlmIf48Iso5IDVa_8LUqDdC4pjrEZdHG4amAga2d_LkJDYlkfdL1OrgdDxpEg]michcg@m...[/url
    > Sent: Thursday, March 14, 2002 8:49 PM
    > To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    > Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] moving from breadboard to pc board
    >
    >
    > Thank you for you suggestions, Al. I think I have finally
    > isolated the problem. It was not in the board, after all,
    > but in my connection to the Hall Detector.
    >
    > I cleaned the perf board with a rubber eraser, but if I use
    > one again I might try the "good fluxing." I am comfortable
    > with a soldering iron, usually, but this particular pc board
    > did not go very well. Maybe it was the board.
    >
    > Incidentally, I really enjoyed reading your book and I return
    > to it again and again for reference. You have an excellent
    > writing style, very helpful. I also enjoy your wry wit.
    > Thank you again for your help. Best, Michael
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > Al Williams wrote:
    >
    > > Hi Michael,
    > >
    > > A few things to check for.
    > >
    > > First, how much current is the rest of your circuit drawing? The
    > > Stamp's regulator can't provide much current and the more
    > voltage you
    > > put in, the less current you can get out (like most regulators).
    > >
    > > Second, breadboards are big capacitors and so you might need bypass
    > > capacitors on the PCB that you didn't need on the breadboard.
    > >
    > > Third, have someone else check your wiring ;-)
    > >
    > > Fourth, what other circuits are you using on the PCB?
    > >
    > > Fifth, if your wiring rings true with an ohmmeter, I guess
    > this isn't
    > > a problem, but I have found that the Radio Shack boards are
    > uniformly
    > > filthy when you unpack them and a good fluxing (can I say
    > that before
    > > 9PM?) will really improve their solderability.
    > >
    > > If you have noisy things like motors or spark plugs nearby,
    > you might
    > > want to read the Stamp FAQ article about reseting the processor
    > > spuriously. The FAQ is at
    > > http://www.al-williams.com/wd5gnr/stampfaq.htm
    > > -- If you build your breadboard circuit and remove the
    > programming cable
    > > does it still work? It should.
    > >
    > > Another problem that sometimes manifests itself as a "works
    > with cable
    > > on, not with cable off" is when you have a ground missing. Then you
    > > wind up grounding your circuit through the DB9 and the PC.
    > If you have
    > > sensors, motors, etc. be sure the grounds are tied together.
    > >
    > > Al Williams
    > > AWC
    > > * Control 8 servos at once http://www.al-williams.com/awce/pak8.htm
    > >
    > > >
    Original Message
    > > > From: Michael Gianturco [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=lztORZjCDy-XKDPX1LYQWFlmIf48Iso5IDVa_8LUqDdC4pjrEZdHG4amAga2d_LkJDYlkfdL1OrgdDxpEg]michcg@m...[/url
    > > > Sent: Wednesday, March 13, 2002 5:22 PM
    > > > To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    > > > Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] moving from breadboard to pc board
    > > >
    > > >
    > > > I have constructed and programmed a tachometer on the BOE
    > > > breadboard. It works.
    > > >
    > > > On a perf board from Radio Shack, I re-created the circuit, and
    > > > transferred the Stamp and another IC, a digital pot, from the
    > > > breadboard to sockets on the perf board.
    > > >
    > > > Not surprisingly, perhaps, the tachometer doesn't work in
    > it's new
    > > > incarnation. To make sure I hadn't ruined the chips in my "smoke
    > > > test," I transferred them back to the breadboard. The tachometer
    > > > circuit still works fine.
    > > >
    > > > The pc board is clean, no shorts, all wiring checks out.
    > > >
    > > > What are the differences between the pc board version and the
    > > > breadboard version?
    > > >
    > > > The pc board relies on the stamp's on-board regulator to
    > produce a
    > > > +5 supply for the other chip. A check with the VOM shows it is
    > > > delivering the +5 supply okay.
    > > >
    > > > The BOE has a serial interface -- the pc board has none.
    > In other
    > > > words, the pins that were used for programming are no
    > longer hooked
    > > > up to anything. Could this make a
    > > > difference somehow? I doesn't seem like it should, but I
    > > > am trying to exhaust the possibilites.
    > > >
    > > > Thank you for your insights.
    > > > Michael
    > > >
    > > >
    > > >
    > > > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > > > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > > > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the
    > > > Subject and Body of the message will be ignored.
    > > >
    > > >
    > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
    > > > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    > > >
    > >
    > > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in
    > the Subject
    > > and Body of the message will be ignored.
    > >
    > >
    > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
    > > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the
    > Subject and Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-03-18 04:50
    Check your Ground (common) connections! You may have forgotten your Power
    connections.
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-03-23 01:52
    Noise on the unconnected ATN line is resetting the stamp.

    At 02:56 PM 3/15/02, you wrote:
    >Hi
    >I have been waiting for someone like this to get some feedback
    >regarding my problem, however the problem manifests in reverse for
    >me, works with cable off not with cable on
    >
    > > Al Williams wrote:
    > > > Another problem that sometimes manifests itself as a "works with cable
    > > > on, not with cable off" is when you have a ground missing. Then you wind
    > > > up grounding your circuit through the DB9 and the PC. If you have
    > > > sensors, motors, etc. be sure the grounds are tied together.
    >
    >Radu
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